Biden’s IRS Army in Jeopardy


Armstrong Economics Blog/The Hunt for Taxes Re-Posted Nov 8, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Biden’s IRS army of 87,000 new armed recruits is coming under fire by the Republican party. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Jon Thune (R-SD) are working on a bill that would require Congress to approve IRS spending. Both men also sit on the House-Senate Joint Committee on Taxation. Biden would like to spend $80 billion on his IRS army over the next decade to shake down American taxpayers.

Our bill will ensure that the IRS is answerable to the American people in how it uses this money and will force it to forfeit funds every day it’s not in compliance,” Grassley said. “If our bill becomes law, the Biden administration’s IRS would have to answer to the American people, not Washington bureaucrats,” Thune added. The American people fund the IRS, and it is only right that they vote on how their money is spent. In fact, they should vote on whether there is a need for the IRS at all.

If the bill passes, the IRS must explain how they use their money every year. Funding to the IRS would be withheld if they failed to comply. If Congress turns red this November, this measure is likely to pass. This would be a great first step in a long overdue overhaul of the entire US tax system, which is designed to be as complex as possible so that the government can squeeze funds out of every citizen.

Cooperate or perish – U.N. chief tells COP27


Reuters Published originally on Rumble on November 7, 2022

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres told leaders gathered at the start of the COP27 summit in Egypt on Monday (November 7) they face a stark choice: work together now to cut emissions or condemn future generations to climate catastrophe.

Portland’s Homeless Crisis – A Tale of a Blue City


Armstrong Economics Blog/North America Re-Posted Nov 4, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Oregon is a beautiful picturesque state. Mountains, waterfalls, and beautiful beaches – Oregon was once a desirable place to live. Portland was a promising metropolitan area before politicians completely destroyed the city with light-on-crime policies.

 The Portland Business Journal reported that high-earning residents relocated to areas like Deschutes County, Arizona, and Texas. As in all societies, the highest earners who have the ability to relocate are the first to flee crumbling cities. Multnomah County saw a decline of 2,000 taxpayers between 2019 and 2020, but more have likely fled.

As of June, the average rent in Portland was $1,700, but many will tell you that estimate is low. This is not why homelessness has spiked. Over the past two years alone, the homeless population increased by 25%! Homeless camps have moved into the suburbs as people simply have nowhere to go. The city has attempted to authorize homeless encampment sites in certain areas, but there is not enough room. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler (D) has done nothing to address the mental health and drug abuse crises at the root of the problem. This is an extremely sad situation, as no one should live in this manner.

The pandemic added to the crisis, but Portland declared a state of emergency back in 2015 due to the drastic number of unhoused people. Oregon legalized hard drugs in February 2021. People may legally carry heroin, cocaine, methadone, oxycodone, and even methamphetamine for personal use. Most users will only face a $100 fine. Drug overdoses rose by 41% in 2020 from the year prior.

As we have seen in many Democrat-run cities, theft is basically legal. The Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon (ORCAOR) conducted a poll that found 95% of businesses are unhappy with the relaxed crime laws, and 80% admitted theft had risen significantly. “We’ve seen an increase in assaults, in drug use within the stores, threats, individuals threatening with weapons,” said Jeremy Girard, the president of ORCAOR, who conducted the survey in late spring. Around 80% said there was not an adequate police response, but that is because they voted to defund the police and urged them to turn a blind eye to crime.

Businesses are closing, and people are fleeing the city. The Oregon Mayors Association wants to spend $123.5 million annually to prolong the problem rather than address the causes. Another example of poor policies ruining a blue city and asking taxpayers for more funding to throw money at the problem.

Division of Pure Hatred


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Nov 3, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Dear Marty
Are we indeed witnessing this divide between socialists/Marxists and conservatives/sensible people worldwide not just in the USA? Is this the last worldwide battle against marxism (anti-God)?
Look at Brazil. No different. In the protests yesterday several Lula supporters actually ran over Bolsonaristas who were protesting in the street. At least 5 were taken to the hospital and reports of some deaths. They were filmed on people’s phones. It’s horrible what the left will do.
Is this the point where we all need to choose a side and step up to be counted? Freedom has to be fought for it seems.

SP

ANSWER: Unfortunately, yes. While the United States is deeply divided and will ultimately break up as will Europe, our politicians have been fanning the flames of division. The controversy that Tucker Carlson created by characterizing Jammie Raskin as saying “Russia is an Orthodox Christian country with traditional social values. And for that reason, it must be destroyed no matter what the cost to us.”  Tucker’s interpretation of Raskin’s speech is incorrect. Implied by Raskin was that the Democrats stand for freedom and politicians should not be telling you what to do. He insinuates that Putin rejects those ideas implied because it is an Orthodox Christian Country. Putin has rejected the West’s cancel culture and teaching sexual fluidity to children he called a Crime against Humanity.

Putin has said that the cancel culture, and divisions of people, were once part of Russia and led to its demise. Yes, he stands against homosexuality, and this is part of what is inferred by Raskin that Russia is not as liberal and rejects the principles of Wokeness and the push of the Democrats. Did Raskin outright call for a religious war? No. However, his vitriol is rather absurd pretending that the Democrats stand for democracy and freedom when they are dictating how everyone should live from heating their homes to what they drive. Then, he pretends that America stands for Ukraine while refusing to explain that Zelensky has outlawed Russian to be spoken by Russians in the Donbas and that they are to surrender their religious beliefs as well.

On September 6th, 2014, an official statement was made illustrating the religious battle that was also unfolding. The new Patriarch Filaret, who heads the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate, came out and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has fallen under the spell of Satan and faces eternal damnation to hell unless he repents.

The Western press refuses to report the antics of Zelensky. He has waged a holy war. He has raised the so-called Patriarch of Kyiv and ordered all the Russians in the Donbas that their churches are now to be subsidiaries of Kyiv. He has supplanted the Patriarch of Moscow replacing him with his Kyiv version effectively this is like replacing the Pope with some local bishop. The French did that by seizing the Papacy and moving it from Rome to Avignon. But, hey, Zelensky stands for freedom and democracy while refusing to honor the Mink Agreement that was to allow the Donbas to vote on their independence. So much for democracy.

Why should there be one country under God? It was the Civil War that saw the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears on American Currency in 1864. God is no longer part of the foundation of the United States. Marxism is forbidden by the Ten Commandments. Religion has been under assault in America for quite some time. Some have argued that getting rid of paper money will even kill that motto once and for all.

There is nothing about the United States that adheres to any religious dogma. This idea of “freedom” is really freedom from any religious restraint. This is what has divided the country deeply and the Democrats are looking to win on Abortion. There were extreme abortion supporters who supported even an abortion right after birth. Even the Washington Post had to question that one. I suppose we can do away with the death penalty and just call it post-birth abortion to make it sound better and legal.

The world is divided. Politicians have caused havoc worldwide. They are only interested in winning at all costs and have been demonizing their opponents and that simply divides the country just as Hillary called everyone who voted for Trump, 50%+ – DEPLORABLES. Let’s face it. Both sides are running campaigns of hate.

The United States is already divided. History confirms that a house divided like this cannot possibly stand. The post-2032 era will be a period where society must come to grips with how to design a nation from scratch. The politicians have fueled the politics of hate. I for one could never see myself even dating someone from the other side politically. It would result in constant arguments and at the end of the day, you just cannot live with someone who would be opposed to all your basic beliefs.

Virtue Signaling for Ukraine Wanes


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Nov 3, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

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CNBC reported that Biden and Zelensky exchanged harsh words during a phone call in June 2022. After securing an additional $1 billion in funds from Americans, Zelensky said that the US needs to provide more for Ukraine. Biden losing his temper and Zelensky begging for more money are both believable situations. Similar to a child crying for dessert before dinner, Biden caved and gave Zelensky everything he wanted. Zelensky knows he can continually push for more, but that may change.

The media released this story because they want Americans to believe that the Biden Administration is finding Ukraine’s constant requests asinine at this point. The people at the voting booths this November are watching their own cities crumble and are struggling to understand why America has sent over $20 billion to Ukraine this year. The prospect of a world war has Americans even more wary of this endless support.

A Pew Research Center poll from September showed that public support for Ukraine is fading in America. Out of 10,588 respondents, 26% were no longer concerned about the war in Ukraine. In May, 55% of people cited they were “extremely” or “very” concerned about Russia defeating Ukraine, but that figure fell by 17 percentage points to 38% by September. Around 42% of Americans felt that the US was not providing enough support back in March when the war began, but that number has dwindled to 18%.

Americans are now less concerned with Russia invading other nations outside Ukraine. Putin is not interested in conquering new land, and his motives are not akin to a Hitler situation of expanding a dead empire as the media first presented. Yet, people are more concerned now about the possibility of a nuclear war, as 52% of Democrats and 37% of Republicans expressed in the Pew Research Center survey.

Sources say Ukraine would like up to $60 billion in additional funds and will continue using America and Western allies as an ATM until legislation is passed to stop this nonsense.

Public Confidence in Russia is Down


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Oct 31, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The world forgets that war only benefits a select few who safely sit in their ivory towers while the general population suffers. Antidepressant prescriptions soared by 70% in the first nine months of 2022. The top comment online in response to this article began with, “I am sure some Russians are good, but….”

This would be akin to the world believing Americans are inherently bad due to our government’s part in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. Newsweek reported that Russians spent $81.1 million in those nine months on antidepressants. In Moscow, 1,300 packages were delivered per 10,000 adults. So 13% of the city is being treated for depression currently. RBK stated that the increase in antidepressant usage is due to war, fears of shortages, and sanctions. Antidepressant spending also increased after Putin announced a partial mobilization of troops on September 21.

A Russian public opinion fund survey found that around 70% of the population experienced anxiety after the mobilization announcement. Around 35% of participants in this particular study reported anxiety during the week of September 18, but that nearly doubled the following week to 65%.

Not every Russian citizen is lining up to die for their country, and it is safe to say most do not want war. Human nature is the same wherever you go, but overall rhetoric has demonized Russians for simply existing.

Any aspirations for a future have been put on hold as Russians are uncertain if they will be met with the full force of NATO. Grocery stores look very different today from less than a year ago, as common brands have been replaced with obscure knockoffs and some products are no longer available. Hundreds of thousands have fled their country, but they are not warmly received. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Russians to leave their homeland, and those who are forced to stay fear what is to come.

Zelensky Wants WWIII Bringing Death & Destruction to the Entire World


Armstrong Economics Blog/Ukraine Re-Posted Oct 30, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

With most con artists, you need to count your fingers after shaking hands. With the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, you have to make sure you still have your arm. He wears the same clothes to project he is at war raising some to hope he at least takes it off to wash. Both Germany and Japan as well as the Swiss all apologized for war crimes – but never Ukraine.

Never in all my career of dealing with governments have I ever witnessed such a bold-faced liar as Zelensky. He addressed the students and professors of Yale University, and boldly had the audacity to claim that it is in Ukraine that the global fate of democracy is being determined. The Minsk Agreement called for the Donbas to vote on their independence. Ukraine has refused to allow that ever to happen. His claim that the fate of democracy will be determined only if Ukraine can destroy all Russians is just outrageous.

“It is important for the whole world that Russia loses now – in the war in Ukraine. When we win for ourselves, we will win for other nations whose freedom is potentially under attack: the ambitions of the Russian throne are known.” 

“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I want to thank your people for the support you provide to our defense. Thank you to your leaders – President Biden, both chambers and parties of Congress, public figures and businesses who feel how important it is for Ukrainian democracy to endure.” 

Zelensky has refused to apologize to Poland for its war crimes. The depravity of Ukrainian is far beyond any of the worst horror films ever made. It has been documented what the Ukrainians have done like cutting out a baby from a mother’s stomach and sowing her back up after putting in a live cat. Zelensky REFUSES to acknowledge what the Ukrainians carried out. The Polish Association of Memory of Victims of Crimes of Ukrainian Nationalists documented 135 methods of torture and murder practiced by Ukrainian Nazis. Poland officially called the Ukrainian actions genocide. The Ukrainians have been protected by the CIA for decades ONLY because they hated Russians. They continue to protect the Ukrainian Nazis only because they are waging war against Russia. Every country has apologized for its war crimes with the single exception of Ukraine. Zelensky is an absolute disgrace as a world leader.

All the declassified documents confirm that the American Neocons have been lying about Putin simply because they want war. They told Zelensky not to negotiate peace. Zelensky has sold his own country like Judas for a handful of silver. He has refused to negotiate any terms of peace whatsoever putting his people in harm’s way all for the Neocons who want to simply destroy Russia at all costs.

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I have the same documents that were the briefings that reveal that Yeltsin turned to Putin BECAUSE he was not a communist. Yeltsin was being blackmailed with the Bank of New York case by the oligarchs and Republic National Bank’s Edmond Safra on the one side and the communists who filed an impeachment action to remove Yeltsin on the other. Yeltsin turned to Putin because he was against reestablishing the USSR and he was not an oligarch.  Anthony Blinken has repeatedly maintained the standard propaganda that Putin has “imperial designs” to recreate the USSR. All the declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that is also an outright lie.

The Minsk Agreement was to allow the Donbas to freely vote on their independence. They are ethnic Russians – not Ukrainians, Zelensky promised peace to get elected and has refused to negotiate for peace and has claimed democracy depends on Uktain destroying Russia when in fact he has refused to allow the Donbas to even vote. He only wants to destroy Russia.

This is a Climate Change War. The objective is the destroy Russia, and its energy production for that is 50% of the entire GDP, and they will then transform it into their idea of a vassal state subservient to the United Nations. You do not war World War III for a tiny piece of land that has always been historically Russian. Those who want to fly their Ukrainian flags in support, look around for you are condemning the future of your family for a war that they lied about from the start just like the weapons of mass destruction.